Training to be an interior decorator

You're always sketching out designs on your scribbling pad. Fabric and texture fascinate you. You undoubtedly have a flair for colour. You know you have it in you to be an interior designer.

Interior designing can be a very creative challenging career - but you need to train yourself for it. It helps if you have the inherent aptitude for it - but educating yourself in interior designing is a must if you want to do well in this field of work. Because there's a lot more to it than colour schemes and pretty pictures.

There's a lot of money involved - your client's money - and you can't make too many mistakes. Even a small mistake could end up costing a lot. If you've settled on a design that really doesn't go well for an apartment /house of that particular size - your client is going to bear the burden for it. A big bill to pay and décor he doesn't care for. And what does that do to your reputation?

Why do you need to necessarily educate yourself for this job? Let's take a look at the different factors involved in interior designing.

There is a lot more to interior design than prettying up houses.

It's about catering to the client's taste even while you provide the beauty and the aesthetics within a certain budget.

Interior decorating goes hand in hand with architecture, and marketing skills.

You need to have a good head for business and budgets. Contract bids need to be drafted and worked out to suit the parties involved.

You need to keep in mind the building's safety code, fire regulations.


You have to know which walls can be knocked down to make for more room, and which walls bear the weight of the building.

You also have to work alongside plumbers, electricians, masons and builders. Your communicating skills need to be excellent.

There are so many consequences, hazards and difficulties to deal with - that you need proper education and training to manage well. Innate interest and aptitude is not sufficient to know how to blend technology with creativity and security.

Interior design courses include art, architecture, technology and design. They also teach you how to blend all the aspects together.

Fresh graduates have to work as apprentices and assistants to senior colleagues before they step out on their own.